Indiana Woman and Husband Charged with Neglect in Death of Her Father Who Was Allegedly 'Sunken' Into Couch

Mar. 15, 2025

Frederick (left) and Carmen Groves.Photo:Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office (2)An Indiana couple is accused of neglecting an elderly man who was “sunken” into the couch when he was found dead.Frederick, 60, and Carmen Groves, 49, are charged with neglecting a dependent causing death following the discovery of Carmen’s deceased 73-year-old father, Kenneth Rickenbaugh.According to reports from theEvansville Courier & Press,WFIEandWEHT, who all cited a police affidavit, Frederick allegedly called police on June 23 to say that his father-in-law had died. But when police responded, the outlets reported that Rickenbaugh was found in a room smelling of feces and that parts of his skin had become stuck to a couch.Online jail and court records indicate that in addition to neglecting a dependent, Frederick and Carmen are charged with altering the scene of death and failure to report human remains, while Frederick is also charged with exploitation of a dependent or endangered adult.Both were booked into jail on Aug. 16.Attorneys for Frederick and Carmen Groves could not immediately be reached for comment. It is not immediately clear if either defendant has entered a plea.The reported affidavit states that police who responded to the Evansville home said the floor had just been mopped.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.According to WEHT’s reporting on the affidavit, police said that Frederick allegedly admitted in an interview to never going in the room where Rickenbaugh was found and that Carmen was the one who fed the elderly man. Frederick allegedly told police that his father-in-law was bedridden and received very little care, according to theCourier & Press.TheCourier & Pressalso reported, citing the affidavit, that Frederick allegedly told police he assumed Rickenbaugh urinated and defecated on himself while sitting on the couch, and noted that he had heard his father-in-law call out, “Help.“Both Frederick and Carmen have hearings scheduled for Sept. 30.Frederick and Carmen are each being held on $100,000 bond, jail records indicate.

Frederick (left) and Carmen Groves.Photo:Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office (2)

Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office (2)

An Indiana couple is accused of neglecting an elderly man who was “sunken” into the couch when he was found dead.Frederick, 60, and Carmen Groves, 49, are charged with neglecting a dependent causing death following the discovery of Carmen’s deceased 73-year-old father, Kenneth Rickenbaugh.According to reports from theEvansville Courier & Press,WFIEandWEHT, who all cited a police affidavit, Frederick allegedly called police on June 23 to say that his father-in-law had died. But when police responded, the outlets reported that Rickenbaugh was found in a room smelling of feces and that parts of his skin had become stuck to a couch.Online jail and court records indicate that in addition to neglecting a dependent, Frederick and Carmen are charged with altering the scene of death and failure to report human remains, while Frederick is also charged with exploitation of a dependent or endangered adult.Both were booked into jail on Aug. 16.Attorneys for Frederick and Carmen Groves could not immediately be reached for comment. It is not immediately clear if either defendant has entered a plea.The reported affidavit states that police who responded to the Evansville home said the floor had just been mopped.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.According to WEHT’s reporting on the affidavit, police said that Frederick allegedly admitted in an interview to never going in the room where Rickenbaugh was found and that Carmen was the one who fed the elderly man. Frederick allegedly told police that his father-in-law was bedridden and received very little care, according to theCourier & Press.TheCourier & Pressalso reported, citing the affidavit, that Frederick allegedly told police he assumed Rickenbaugh urinated and defecated on himself while sitting on the couch, and noted that he had heard his father-in-law call out, “Help.“Both Frederick and Carmen have hearings scheduled for Sept. 30.Frederick and Carmen are each being held on $100,000 bond, jail records indicate.

An Indiana couple is accused of neglecting an elderly man who was “sunken” into the couch when he was found dead.

Frederick, 60, and Carmen Groves, 49, are charged with neglecting a dependent causing death following the discovery of Carmen’s deceased 73-year-old father, Kenneth Rickenbaugh.

According to reports from theEvansville Courier & Press,WFIEandWEHT, who all cited a police affidavit, Frederick allegedly called police on June 23 to say that his father-in-law had died. But when police responded, the outlets reported that Rickenbaugh was found in a room smelling of feces and that parts of his skin had become stuck to a couch.

Online jail and court records indicate that in addition to neglecting a dependent, Frederick and Carmen are charged with altering the scene of death and failure to report human remains, while Frederick is also charged with exploitation of a dependent or endangered adult.

Both were booked into jail on Aug. 16.

Attorneys for Frederick and Carmen Groves could not immediately be reached for comment. It is not immediately clear if either defendant has entered a plea.

The reported affidavit states that police who responded to the Evansville home said the floor had just been mopped.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

According to WEHT’s reporting on the affidavit, police said that Frederick allegedly admitted in an interview to never going in the room where Rickenbaugh was found and that Carmen was the one who fed the elderly man. Frederick allegedly told police that his father-in-law was bedridden and received very little care, according to theCourier & Press.

TheCourier & Pressalso reported, citing the affidavit, that Frederick allegedly told police he assumed Rickenbaugh urinated and defecated on himself while sitting on the couch, and noted that he had heard his father-in-law call out, “Help.”

Both Frederick and Carmen have hearings scheduled for Sept. 30.

Frederick and Carmen are each being held on $100,000 bond, jail records indicate.

source: people.com